Marketing research system

ABSTRACT

When the face image data concerning with the face of the player playing in the gaming machine, the game start time data and the lot data of the gaming machine are obtained (S 12 , S 13 ), identification between the obtained face image data and the face image data already existing is determined, thereby the player playing in the gaming machine is identified (S 23 ). If such player cannot be identified (S 24 : NO), the sex distinction and the age bracket guessed based on the obtained face image data (S 25 ) are stored in correlation with the game start time and the data base  51  formed every gaming machine is constructed and renewed (S 27 ). On the other hand, if the player can be identified (S 24 : YES), the sex distinction and the age bracket of the player are stored in correlation with the game start time and the lot data of the gaming machine and the data base  61  formed every player is constructed and renewed (S 28 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS(S)

This application is based upon and claims a priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-361266 filed on Dec. 15, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a marketing research system in which a research of customer bracket for a gaming machine is automatically conducted.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, in many cases, a planning and development of new goods is done taking a result of marketing research into consideration. At that time, although the marketing research is generally conducted in a manner that questionnaire sheets are collected, there may be a manner of marketing research that mail contents on Web are utilized, as shown in Unexamined Japanese Publication No. 2005-222279.

However, even in any of the manners of marketing research mentioned in the above, it is required to ask object persons of the marketing research to write answers in questionnaire sheets or input answers in mail contents, therefore, there will be fear that the object persons must owe burdens to write answers on the questionnaire sheets or input answers in the mail contents and a research result not reflecting a truth is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to dissolve the above problems, the present invention has been done and has an object to provide a marketing research system in which a research of customer bracket for a gaming machine can be easily and correctly conducted.

In order to accomplish the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is provided a marketing research system comprising:

image taking device for taking face image data concerning a face of a player starting to play a game in a gaming machine; and

a processor programmed to operate with the image taking device (a) to obtain gaming machine information concerning the gaming machine which is played by the player, (b) to form player identification information in cooperation with the face image data taken through the image taking device, and (c) to construct a data base exclusive for the gaming machine based on the player identification information and the gaming machine information, in the data base exclusive for the gaming machine plural files being formed every gaming machine and the player identification information concerning plural players being attached to the gaming machine information in each file.

And according to another aspect of the present invention, it is provided a marketing research system having plural gaming machines and a control device, each of the gaming machines being connected to the control device so as to communicate each other,

each of the gaming machine comprising:

image taking device for taking face image data concerning a face of a player starting to play a game in the gaming machine;

the control device comprising:

a processor programmed to operate with the image taking device (a) to obtain gaming machine information concerning the gaming machine which is played by the player, (b) to form player identification information in cooperation with the face image data taken through the image taking device, and (c) to construct a data base exclusive for the gaming machine based on the player identification information and the gaming machine information, in the data base exclusive for the gaming machine plural files being formed every gaming machine and the player identification information concerning plural players being attached to the gaming machine information in each file.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purpose of illustration only and not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantages and principles of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a program executed in a marketing research system according to the embodiment,

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an outline of the marketing research system of the embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system in the marketing research system of the embodiment,

FIG. 4 is a conceptual view schematically showing a construction of transmit data in the marketing research system of the embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a conceptual view schematically showing a construction of a data base exclusive for gaming machines in the marketing research system of the embodiment, and

FIG. 6 is a conceptual view schematically showing a construction of a data base exclusive for players in the marketing research system of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an outline of the marketing research system of the embodiment. The marketing research system 1 is installed in a game arcade, and as shown in FIG. 2, the marketing research system has a construction in which gaming machines 3 installed in an island equipment 2 of the game arcade are connected to a control device 4 through a Local Area Network (LAN) 5.

Here, in each of the gaming machines 3, it is provided a CCD camera 7 which is arranged at an upper position and photographs a face of a player sitting on a stool 6 and playing games. Face image data photographed by the CCD camera 7 with identifying data of the gaming machine and time data at present are transmitted to the control device 4.

Here, as for the gaming machines 3, for example, there will be slot machines, Pachinko machines, various card game machines in which trump cards are utilized, mah-jong game machines, smart ball game machines and the like. And in FIG. 2, coin dispensers 12 sandwiched between the gaming machines 3 are provided in the island equipment 2.

On the other hand, when the control device 4 receives various data from the gaming machines 3, the control device 4 identifies the player based on the face image data received and analyzes sex distinction and age bracket of the player. Further, the control device 4 constructs and renews the data base for each gaming machine 3 and the data base for each player by utilizing the identification and analyzing data concerning with characters of the player and the data received from the gaming machines 3.

Therefore, in the data base of each gaming machine 3 and the data base for each player, there are stored contents of customer bracket research having research items such as the sex distinction, the age bracket, the object gaming machine lot information, the gaming time of the player. Such contents stored in various data bases can be utilized in the marketing research. Here, the control device 4 shown in FIG. 2 is a personal computer having a main body 8 and can access each of the data bases by using a display 9, a keyboard 10 and a mouse 11.

Hereinafter, a control system to conduct the marketing research of customer bracket will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system in the marketing research system of the embodiment. That is to say, the control system in the marketing research system 1 is constructed from each of the gaming machines 3, the control device 4 and the LAN 5, as shown in FIG. 3.

And in each of the gaming machines 3, a communication circuit 21, a CCD camera control circuit 22 and a main control circuit 23 are connected to an I/O port 24. Here, the communication circuit 21 is connected to the LAN 5 and conducts data communication with the control device 4. The CCD camera control circuit 22 is connected to the CCD camera 7 and controls operation of the CCD camera 7. The main control circuit 23 controls game function of the gaming machine 3 by a CPU (not shown) provided therein, and conducts control of the communication circuit 21 and the CCD camera control circuit 22.

On the other hand, the control device 4 is constructed from the main body 8, the display 9, the keyboard 10 and the mouse 11. Further, in the main body 8, a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a display control circuit 34, a communication circuit 35, a frame memory 36 and a HDD 37 are connected to an I/O port 38.

The CPU 31 controls the control device 4 by executing a control program based on control tables and the control program being stored in the RAM 32. When such control is conducted, the RAM 33 is used as a working area. The display control circuit 34 is connected to the display 9 and controls display contents of the display 9. The communication circuit 35 is connected to the LAN 5 and conducts data communication with each of the gaming machines 3. In the frame memory 36, the face image data photographed through the CCD camera 7 of each gaming machine 3 are developed, and the frame memory 36 is used as a working area when the an image verification program stored in the ROM 32 is executed by the CPU 31. The HDD 37 is a hard disc drive in which each of the data bases and face image data are stored.

Here, FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a program executed in a marketing research system 1 according to the embodiment.

In the marketing research system 1 of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, at first, processes in steps 11 (abbreviated as “S” hereinafter) to 14 are conducted at the side of gaming machine 3. Here, processes of S11 to S14 are stored in the inner memory of the main control circuit 23 in each gaming machine 3 and executed by the CPU (not shown) of the main control circuit 32 in each gaming machine 3 as a sub-program against a main program not shown.

That is to say, in each of the gaming machines 3, in S11, it is determined whether or not a photographing time has come. If it is determined that the photographing time has not come (S11: NO), such sub-program is terminated and procedure shifts to the main programs not shown. On the other hand, if it is determined that the photographing time ahs come (S11: YES), procedure shifts to S12 and the fame image data are obtained by photographing the face of the player through the CCD camera 7.

Therefore, the photographing time in S11 becomes a trigger chance when the CCD camera 7 photographs in S12. Concretely speaking, if the gaming machine is the slot machine, for example, there can be raised a case that the game is started by operating a start lever (not shown) or pressing a bet button (not shown). If the gaming machine 3 is the Pachinko machine, for example, there can be raised a case that a game start operation is conducted by rotating a handle. Here, in any of the above cases, in order to avoid that the same player is repeatedly photographed while playing of the game is continued, for example, after photographing by the CCD camera 7 is once conducted, even if the above game start operation is conducted, such game start operation is not handled as the photographing timing till a predetermined time elapses.

In S13, game information is obtained. Here, the game information means, for example, the time data that the CCD camera 7 photographs the player, the lot No. of the gaming machine 3 and the like. These kinds of information are obtained from a timer or an inner memory of the main control circuit 23 of the gaming machine 3. Here, the above time data is handled as the start time at which the player photographed by the CCD camera 7 starts to play the game.

In S14, data transmission is conducted to the control device 4. FIG. 4 is a conceptual view schematically showing a construction of transmit data 41. That is to say, as shown in FIG. 4, the transmit data 41 transmitted to the control device 4 from the gaming machine 3 is constructed from the time data stored in a field 42, the lot No. data of the gaming machine 3 stored in a field 43 and the face image data stored in a field 44.

Returning to FIG. 1, after the process in S14 is executed in each of the gaming machines 3, this sub-program is terminated and procedure returned to the main program not shown.

On the other hand, in the marketing research system 1 of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, processes of S21 to S28 are executed at the side of the control device 4. Here, each of the processes of S21 to S28 is stored in the ROM 32 and executed by the CPU 31 as one of the sub-programs against to the main program not shown.

That is to say, in the control device 4, it is determined in S21 whether or not the transmit data 41 are transmitted from the gaming machine 3. If it is determined that the transmit data 41 are not transmitted from the gaming machine 31 (S21: NO), this sub-program is terminated and procedure returns to the main program not shown. On the contrary, if it is determined that the transmit data 41 are transmitted from the gaming machine 3 (S21: YES), procedure shifts to S22 and the control device 4 conducts reception of the transmit data 41 transmitted from the gaming machine 3. At that time, the face image data stored in the field 44 of the transmit data 41 are stored in the frame memory 36.

In S23, the verification process is conducted. Concretely, the image process in the image verification program stored in the ROM 32 is executed, thereby data coinciding with the face image data (transmitted from the gaming machine 3) are found out among the face image data already accumulatively stored in the HDD 37. As mentioned, by finding out the data coinciding with the face image data, the player with the face photographed by the CCD camera 7 in S12 is identified.

In S24, it is determined whether or not the player identified according to the above exists. Here, if it is determined that the player identified according to the above does not exist (S24: NO), procedure shifts to S25 and the sex distinction and the age bracket of the player with the face photographed by the CCD camera 7 in S12 are guessed, based on the face image data (transmitted from the gaming machine 3) stored in the frame memory 36. Here, above guess process is executed as a part of the image process of the image verification program executed in S23, including the player determination process in S24. At that time, the age bracket is set with an interval of 10 years such as 10 age, 20 age, 30 age . . . .

In S26, a new identification number is added to the face image data (transmitted from the gaming machine 3) stored in the frame memory 36, and such identification number is stored in the HDD 37 together with the data concerning with the sex distinction and the age bracket guessed in S25. Thereafter, procedure shifts to S27. On the other hand, if it is determined in S24 that the identified player exists (S24: YES), procedure also shifts to S27.

In S27, the data base for the gaming machine 3 is constructed on the HDD 37. FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing a construction of the data base 51 for the gaming machine 3. As shown in FIG. 5, the data base for the gaming machine is constructed from a file 51A, a file 51B, . . . formed every gaming machine 3.

Here, the file 51A will be described. The file 51B can be described similarly to the file 51A. That is to say, in the file 51A, records 52 to 57 are retained. In the record 52, “Pachi-slot machine ◯×type No. ◯×Δ” is written as the information to specify the gaming machine 3, based on the lot No data in the field 43 of the transmit data 41 received in S22 from the gaming machine 3. In the record 53, research items of “sex distinction”, “age bracket 2, “time” are written in each field in order.

In the record 54, “man”, “20” and “2005. 12. 05 13:30” are written in each field in order. As shown in FIG. 5, these correspond to each research item of “sex distinction”, “age bracket”, “time” written in each field of the record 53. Although this point is same as each of the records 55 to 57, concrete data or combination thereof written in each field are different from each other.

That is to say, in S27 of FIG. 1, it is found out the file having the record 52 in which the contents same as the lot data of the field 43 in the transmit data 41 received in S22 from the gaming machine 3 are written among the data base 51 for the gaming machine 3 on the HDD 37, and in the above file, it is added the record in which each of data concerning with the sex distinction and the age bracket guessed in S25 and the time data within the field 42 of the transmit data 41 received in S22 from the gaming machine 3 are written in order.

Here, if such file does not exist, it is formed a new file having the record 52 in which the contents same as the lot data within the field 43 of the transmit data 41 received in S22 from the gaming machine 3 are written, and in such new file, it is added the record 53 in which each of the research items if “sex distinction”, “age bracket”, “time” is written in order and the record in which each of data concerning with the sex distinction and the age bracket guessed in S25 and the time data within the field 42 of the transmit data 41 received in S22 from the gaming machine 3 are written in order.

Here, if it is determined that the identified player exists (S24: YES), it is not conducted guess of each data concerning with the sex distinction and the age bracket in S25, therefore each data concerning with the sex distinction and the age bracket stored in the HDD 37 corresponding to the face image data of the identified player are read out and written therein.

As mentioned, after formation of the data base 51 exclusive for the gaming machine 3 is conducted on the HDD 37 in S27, procedure shifts to S28 and the data base exclusive for the player is formed on the HDD 37. FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing a construction of the data base 61 exclusive for the player. As shown in FIG. 6, the data base exclusive for the player is constructed from a file 61A, 61B, . . . formed every each player.

Hereinafter, the file 61A will be described. The file 61B can be described similarly to the file 61A. That is to say, in the file 61A, records 62 to 66 are retained. In the record 62, “No. □×◯ man 20 age” is written. The former portion of “No. □×◯” is the identification No. of the face image data stored in the HDD 37. The latter portion of “man 20 age” is the data concerning with the sex distinction and the age bracket guessed in S25.

In the record 63, each of the research items of “lot” and “time” is written in each field.

Further, in the record 64, based on the lot data in the field 43 of the transmit data 41 received from the gaming machine 3 in S22 and the time data in the field 42, the data of “Japanese Pachi-slot machine α3Δ type No. ◯×Δ” and “2005. 12. 05 13:30” are written in each field. As shown in FIG. 6, these data correspond to each research item of “lot” and “time”. This writing form is same as that in each of the records 65, 66, . . . , but concrete data or combination thereof written in each field are different with each other.

That is to say, in S28 of FIG. 1, it is searched a file having the record 62 in which the identification number attached in S26 of FIG. 1 is written among the data base 61 exclusive for the player stored in the HDD 37, and in such searched file, it is added a record in which the lot data in the field 43 of the transmit data 41 received from the gaming machine 3 in S22 and the time data in the field 42 are written in order.

Here, if such file does not exist, it is newly formed a file having the record 62 in which the data concerning with the identification number attached in S26 of FIG. 1 and the sex distinction and the age bracket guessed in S25 are written. In such formed file, it is added the record 63 in which each of research items of “lot” and “time” is written in order, and it is added a record in which the lot data in the field 43 of the transmit data 41 received from the gaming machine 3 in S22 and the time data in the field 42 are written in order.

Here, if it is determined that the identified player exist (S24: YES), guess of each data concerning with the sex distinction and the age bracket in S25 is not conducted, therefore the data concerning with the sex distinction and the age bracket stored in the HDD 37 corresponding to the face image data of the identified player are read out and written.

As mentioned, after formation of the data base 61 exclusive for the player is conducted in S28, the sub-program is terminated and procedure returns to the main program not shown.

And the marketing research system 1 according to the embodiment comprises obtainment device (for example, main control circuit 23, S13) for obtaining game information concerning with a gaming machine (for example, gaming machine 3) in which a player plays; an image taking device (for example, main control circuit 23, S12) for obtaining face image data concerning with a face of the player starting to play in the gaming machine (for example, gaming machine 3); an identification device (for example, CPU 31, S23) for identifying the player based on the face image data obtained by the image taking device (for example, CPU 31, S23): a formation device (for example, CPU 31, S26) for forming player identification information concerning with characteristics of the player based on face image data obtained by the image taking device (for example, main control circuit 23, S12) when the identification device (for example, CPU 31, S23) finds a new player; a construction device (for example, CPU 31, S28) for constructing every player a data base exclusive for the player (for example, data base for the player 61) based on the player identification information formed in the formation device (for example, CPU 31, S26) and the game information obtained by the obtainment device (for example, main control circuit 23, S13) and for renewing every player the data base exclusive for the player (for example, data base 61 for the player) based on the game information obtained by the obtainment device (for example, main control circuit 23, S13) when the identification device (for example, CPU 31, S23) finds the same player.

Here, although the formation device (for example, CPU 31, S26) forms player identification information concerning with characteristics of the player based on the face image data obtained by the image taking device (for example, main control circuit 23, S12) when the identification device (for example, CPU 31, S23) finds a new player (S24: NO), the formation device may form the player identification information when the identification device (for example, CPU 31, S23) finds the same player (S24: YES).

As mentioned in the above, in the marketing research system 1 according to the embodiment, after the face image data concerning with the face of the player starting to play in the gaming machine 3 are obtained by the CCD camera 7 (S12), and the data of the time at which the game is started in the gaming machine 3 and the lot of the gaming machine 3 are obtained as the game information (S13), the obtained face image data and game information are transmitted as the transmit data 41 to the control device 4 from the gaming machine 3 (S14).

In the control device 4, when the transmit data 41 are received from the gaming machine 3 (S22), the face image data are taken out from the transmit data 41 and it is determined whether or not the identity exists between such face image data and the face image data already stored in the HDD 7. Thereby, the player starting to play in the gaming machine 3 is identified (S23).

Here, if the player cannot be identified (S24: NO), the sex distinction and the age bracket of the player, which are guessed based on the face image data taken out from the transmit data 41 (S25), are correlated with the time at which the player starts to play in the gaming machine 3, and if the file exclusive for the gaming machine 3 already exists in the HDD 37, such sex distinction and age bracket of the player are stored in the file exclusive for the gaming machine 3 already existing and if the file exclusive for the gaming machine 3 does not exist in the HDD 37, such sex distinction and age racket of the player are stored in a file exclusive for the gaming machine 3, the file being newly formed. Thereby, the data base 51 formed every each gaming machine 3 is constructed and renewed (S27).

On the other hand, if the player can be identified (S24: YES), the time data that the player starts to play in the gaming machine 3 and the lot data of the gaming machine 3 are formed, and if the file exclusive for the identified player already exists in the HDD 37, such time data and lot data are stored in the file already existing, and if the file exclusive for the identified player does not exist in the HDD 37, such time data and lot data are stored in a file exclusive for the player, the file being newly formed. Thereby, the data base 61 formed every each player is constructed and renewed (S28).

Therefore, in the control device 4, based on face verification of the player (S23 to S26), the data base 51 constructed every each gaming machine 3 and the data base 61 constructed every each player are accumulated in the HDD 37 (S27, S28), therefore the customer bracket research of each gaming machine 3 can be easily and correctly conducted.

Thereby, at the game arcade side, for example, the customer bracket of each gaming machine 3 can be easily and correctly recognized without utilizing member's card of each player, thus market strategy can be easily elaborated. Further, based on that each of the data base 51 and the data base 61 is accumulated for many years, favorite change of the gaming machine 3 for a long time can be easily analyzed on the basis of the data bases 51, 61 every player, age bracket or sex distinction of the player, lot of the gaming machine.

Here, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various changes and modifications can be done within the scope of the present invention.

For example, in order to include the game state information in the gaming machine 3 (number of times of big prize, game number, sum used in the gaming machine 3, accumulative sum used in the gaming machine 3) in the transmit data 41 transmitted to the control device 4 from the gaming machine 3, such game state information may be stored in each record 54 to 57 of the file 51A, 51B, . . . of the data base 51 exclusive for the gaming machine or each record 64 to 66 of the file 61A, 61B, . . . of the data base 61 exclusive for the player.

In a case that face verification of the player (S23 to S26) is done in each gaming machine 3, the face image data having large data quantity can be omitted from the transmit data 41, communication data quantity between each gaming machine 3 and the control device 4 can be reduced. Further, in a case that construction and accumulation of each data base 51, 61 is conducted in each gaming machine 3, communication process with the control device 4 is not required, thus the control device 4 can be omitted.

Various functions in the customer bracket research in the gaming machine 3 may be executed in each coin dispensers 12 adjacent to the gaming machine 3. In this case, if face verification of the player (S23 to S26) is conducted in each coin dispenser 12, the face image data having large data quantity can be omitted from the transmit data 41, therefore communication data quantity between each coin dispenser 12 and the control device 4 can be reduced. Further, in a case that construction and accumulation of each data base 51, 61 is conducted in each coin dispenser 12, communication process with the control device 4 is not required, thus the control device 4 can be omitted.

The present invention can be adopted for technology for conducting verification and control of the player in the game arcade. 

1. A marketing research system comprising: image taking device for taking face image data concerning a face of a player starting to play a game in a gaming machine; and a processor programmed to operate with the image taking device (a) to obtain gaming machine information concerning the gaming machine which is played by the player, (b) to form player identification information in cooperation with the face image data taken through the image taking device, and (c) to construct a data base exclusive for the gaming machine based on the player identification information and the gaming machine information, in the data base exclusive for the gaming machine plural files being formed every gaming machine and the player identification information concerning plural players being attached to the gaming machine information in each file.
 2. The marketing research system according to claim 1, further comprising: a memory for storing the face image data of plural players; wherein the processor verifies whether or not the face image data taken through the image taking device coincides with the face image data stored in the memory.
 3. The marketing research system according to claim 2, wherein the processor guesses sex distinction and age bracket of the player based on the face image data taken through the image taking device when verified that the face image data taken through the image taking device does not coincide with the face image data stored in the memory, and stores data of the sex distinction and the age bracket in the data base exclusive for the gaming machine.
 4. The marketing research system according to claim 3, wherein when it is verified that the face image data taken through the image taking device coincides with the face image data stored in the memory, the processor renews the data of the sex distinction and the age bracket of the player in the data base exclusive for the gaming machine corresponding to the data of the sex distinction and the age bracket of the player guessed therethrough.
 5. The marketing research system according to claim 1, wherein the processor constructs a data base exclusive for the player based on the player identification information and the gaming machine information, in the data base exclusive for the player plural files being formed every player and the gaming machine information concerning plural gaming machines being attached to the player identification information in each file.
 6. The marketing research system according to claim 5, wherein the processor renews the gaming machine information in the data base exclusive for the player when the file is already formed.
 7. The marketing research system according to claim 1, wherein the image taking device takes the face image data when the player starts the game.
 8. The marketing research system according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine information includes time data when the face image data are taken through the image taking device and lot data of the gaming machine.
 9. A marketing research system having plural gaming machines and a control device, each of the gaming machines being connected to the control device so as to communicate each other, each of the gaming machine comprising: image taking device for taking face image data concerning a face of a player starting to play a game in the gaming machine; the control device comprising: a processor programmed to operate with the image taking device (a) to obtain gaming machine information concerning the gaming machine which is played by the player, (b) to form player identification information in cooperation with the face image data taken through the image taking device, and (c) to construct a data base exclusive for the gaming machine based on the player identification information and the gaming machine information, in the data base exclusive for the gaming machine plural files being formed every gaming machine and the player identification information concerning plural players being attached to the gaming machine information in each file. 